Zola Jesus’ latest single “Go (Blank Sea)”
receives a fantastic reworking from LA duo Skin Town, who lay down dark
yet scintillating synths as a bed for Nika’s powerful vocals. Nick
Turco of Skin Town explains his inspiration when doing this remix:
“Years ago, I had the chance to produce with Nika in our project Nika +
Rory. With this remix I tried to return to that hyper-melodic,
busted-boombox radio synthscape feeling.” The single comes from
critically acclaimed album TAIGA, out now on Mute. Listen to and share
the remix of “Go (Blank Sea)” here. Both remixes of “Go (Blank Sea)”, by
Skin Town and Diplo will be released commercially on November 17th.

Hot off the heels of her transcendent US performances, Zola Jesus heads overseas to present TAIGA to
audiences across the UK and mainland Europe. Full tour dates below.
Zola Jesus also recently filmed a performance for the legendary
Later…with Jools Holland program with U2, Interpol, and Sam Smith, which
will air for US audiences on the Palladia Network the week of November
10th.

Photo Credit: Jeff Elstone

For her 5th studio
album, TAIGA, Nika relocated from central Los Angeles to Vashon Island
in the Puget Sound, in effort to immerse herself in the natural world.
Vashon is a densely-wooded enclave with no bridges connecting it to the
mainland. The taiga is the world’s largest terrestrial biome; a wild
boreal forest covering large portions of Russia, Canada, Eurasia,
referred to as the Northwoods where it connects in North America. Nika
grew up on several acres of land in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Her
Russian ancestors extend the taiga’s bloodline throughout several
generations and to some extent this land has genetically imprinted on
her. She has always felt its pull. To Nika, the taiga represents
boundlessness: no law, just survival - at once innocent and raw,
embodying naivety from its purity, yet at its core unforgiving and
savage.

Most of Nika’s creative process on Vashon was very
different from how she used to write. Instead of starting a track with a
beat or layers of synthesizers (with vocals usually coming last,) she
began by writing songs completely acapella. Her work on the orchestral
album Versions inspired her to revisit her classical vocal training and
further hone the skills she had started developing in operatic study
when she was young. Resuming training with her old opera instructor, she
regained the confidence and vocal range she had heretofore lost. It
allowed her to shed the former blankets of noise and reverb that used to
cover her voice in fear.

After incubating on Vashon for nine
months, Nika headed back to Los Angeles to track and mix the album with
co-producer Dean Hurley (David Lynch, Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse).
Hurley guided her in reaching her fidelity goals; which had always been
compromised on her previous work, typically made as home recordings.
TAIGA is an undeniable transition for Zola Jesus. Described by the
artist herself: “The music on the record is massive, with big brass and
beats, crystal clear vocals.” Liberated in the present yet connected
to the past, TAIGA is a pinnacle for Zola Jesus, the culmination of
years of breaking through boundaries."